Eight Curtin University projects have shared in more than $3.5 million in Australian Research Council funding as part of the Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DECRA) scheme.
Aiming to support outstanding early-career researchers who have shown the ability to produce high-quality research and an emerging capability for leadership and supervision, the DECRA scheme provides support in both teaching and research and research-only positions.
Curtin had the most successful applicants of any Western Australian University.
Each successful Curtin applicant won between $417,000 and $468,000, for projects ranging from addressing alcohol use and abuse in ageing Australians, recovering precious and critical minerals from discarded electronic products and developing new ways to best capture offshore wind and wave energy.
Curtin Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research Professor Melinda Fitzgerald said the funding result was a glowing endorsement of the work being undertaken at the University.
“‘This year saw Curtin’s highest percentage of DECRA scheme applicants successfully receive funding, which demonstrates our commitment and capability in vital research areas identified in the new National Science Statement’,” Professor Fitzgerald said.
“These projects highlight Curtin’s research strengths in critical minerals, the transition towards clean energy and public health.
“Curtin’s strong performance in this round of funding — particularly its leadership in WA — underscores its role as a pivotal player in driving research excellence to support national priorities.”
ARC DISCOVERY EARLY CAREER RESEARCHER AWARD 2025 RECIPIENTS
Addressing alcohol use and injury in Australia’s ageing population
Principal investigator: Dr William Gilmore
Alcohol use in Australia’s rapidly ageing population is an enormous and growing public health challenge that can be reduced or prevented through evidence-based practice and policy. This research aims to build a community-focused interactive visual online tool to address gaps in our knowledge and enable policy change to reduce alcohol’s major impact on older Australians, our health system and communities.
Critical and precious metals recovery from e-waste
Principal investigator: Dr Huan Li
Australia exports most of its waste printed circuit boards (PCBs) after initial processing, with a significant loss of material value. This project will aim to recover critical and precious metals from discarded PCBs to contribute to public health and environmental sustainability, create domestic waste processing capacity, and reinforce Australia’s obligation in the Basel Convention to avoid e-waste export.
Next-generation floating hybrid offshore wind-wave energy conversion system
Principal investigator: Dr Haoran Zuo
This project aims to integrate floating offshore wind turbines and wave energy converters into a unified system to capture wind and wave energy at the same time. The outcomes will contribute significantly to the reduction of energy costs and foster harvesting integrated wind and wave technologies on both national and global scales.
Complex Networks and Systems Theory for the Public Information Environment
Principal investigator: Dr Mengbin Ye
This project aims to investigate how emergent threats, such as disinformation and coordinated influence campaigns, impact the broad environment in which the public shares and consumes information. Advancing mathematical models will help study the impact of such threats on the information environment, which is expected to provide expert advice for Australian policymakers and a more secure information environment for all Australians.
Green Lithium Mining from Granite Reservoirs
Principal investigator: Dr Yongqiang Chen
This project aims to understand lithium enrichment in granitic aquifers, a promising source of green lithium that is more economical and environmentally friendly to extract than hard rock lithium. The expected results are a cutting-edge mathematical model and advanced experimental X-ray imaging demonstrations, to help unlock green lithium resources in Australia and strengthen Australia’s leadership in critical mineral mining.
Protonic ceramic fuel cells for operation under <400 °C
Principal investigator: Dr Daqin Guan
This project aims to address the poor efficiency of ceramic fuel cells at intermediate temperatures by developing new and advanced electrolyte materials to provide significant benefits for Australia’s emerging hydrogen industry.
Thiol ligands modified Cu catalysts for high-rate CO2 reduction to ethanol
Principal investigator: Dr Qiucheng Xu
This project aims to revolutionize ethanol production to achieve high-current density CO2 electrolysis to ethanol in bipolar-membrane-driven CO2 electrolysers powered by renewable electricity. This holds immense potential to transform the ethanol industry, foster economic growth, and contribute to a sustainable energy future.
High-Voltage Proton Batteries Operating at Ultralow Temperature
Principal investigator: Dr Yijun Zhong
This project aims to develop proton batteries with higher energy density, capable of stable operation at ultralow temperatures. which will contribute to the positioning of battery research and the development of the mining and battery industry in Australia.
